About the program
The Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme (IAHP) is our largest First Nations specific investment in improving health, wellbeing and life expectancy outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The IAHP contributes to progress against the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021-2031.
The IAHP funds work under 4 themes:
- comprehensive primary health care services – delivery of comprehensive, culturally appropriate primary health care through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs)
- targeted health initiatives – comprehensive, holistic health care initiatives that target chronic disease management, health promotion, early intervention and prevention and child and maternal health
- ACCHSs infrastructure – buying, leasing, building or upgrading ACCHSs infrastructure
- ACCHSs sector and system support – support to enable effective service delivery including strengthening sector partnerships and collecting and reporting of data for IAHP funded activities
These give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people better access to high-quality, culturally appropriate primary health care in remote, regional and urban areas.
Why it is important
Access to culturally appropriate health care is critical to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The IAHP aims to increase access to culturally appropriate and self-determined health care by prioritising ACCHSs to lead the delivery of programs and services. This aligns with Priority Reform 1 and 2 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Goals of the program
The program aims to improve:
- health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- access to First Nations-led, culturally appropriate health care.
Who we work with
We work in partnership with the First Nations health stakeholders, including the ACCHSs sector to design and deliver programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
We primarily fund ACCHSs to deliver comprehensive primary health care in each state and territory. These organisations plan, manage and deliver services that suit the individual needs of their region and clients.
Other aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives
We fund a range of initiatives to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Each initiative targets specific areas of need, including better access to health care, support for managing chronic conditions, and giving children a good start.
See the list of our other initiatives, programs, campaigns, reforms or reviews related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
Evaluation
An evaluation of primary health care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people funded through the IAHP was conducted by Allen + Clarke Consulting.
The evaluation report, delivered to the department in June 2023, is helping us adapt our activities, to continue to close the gap in health inequality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians.
Funding opportunities
We advertise all IAHP grant funding opportunities on GrantConnect.